Plot: Roderick Usher has just lost his children. When he experiences strange visions in the church, he decides to tell his strange tale to attorney Auguste Dupin.
The first episode of any show acts as a hook. It has to give a taste of what it is going to be about and what viewers can expect from it.
The show's first episode titled A Midnight Dreary gives the viewers a perfect dose of horror intermixed with eccentric yet compelling characters, and to top it all, an inviting mystery that will pull you into watching the subsequent episodes.
But there are times when the show also seems like a clever fanfiction of Edgar Allan Poe's works. The stories, the character names, all of it is derived from the author's works as well as from other stories as well, those that will not feature on the show.
A Midnight Dreary is the phrase used in the first line of the poem: The Raven.
And sure enough, the episode features a raven.
Now ravens are thought to be ill-omens that signify loss. But they are also meant to be prophetic. The symbolism is strong in the show.
A MIDNIGHT DREARY Plot
Roderick Usher is the CEO of Fortunato Pharmaceuticals. He is seen in a church, attending the funeral of three of his children. There is barely anyone else in attendance. Lenore, his granddaughter is seated next to him.
His sister Madeline and enforcer Arthur Pym are also present. Roderick is haunted by visions of his dead children who appear to be blaming him for their plight. He also sees a woman in a raven's mask and is clearly horrified. Lenore tries to reassure him.
When they leave, Roderick collapses and looks up to see a raven on a ledge. Madeline rushes to him and he claims that it is time.
He calls upon attorney Auguste Dupin, who is also his nemesis. Dupin arrives and is surprised when Roderick pours him expensive liquor and reveals that he wants to tell him everything. Dupin doesn’t seem convinced and asks Roderick if he wants his lawyer present. Roderick waives his right to a lawyer and lets Dupin record him.
Roderick starts his story from the very beginning; from when he and Madeline were kids. Their mother was called Eliza and she worked for Fortunato CEO William Longfellow who Roderick suspected was their father as well. Of course Longfellow never accepted his illegitimate children which made Madeline hate the man.
When they were in their teens, Eliza became ill and refused to see a doctor. The siblings went to see Longfellow who refused to help them. When Eliza passes away, Madeline and Roderick decide not to tell the police and quietly bury her. They build a coffin and bury her in their yard.
However, one rainy night, Roderick found that the ground has been dug up and the coffin broken. The two are wondering if their mother was indeed dead or not when they buried her when they find her right behind them.
Eliza holds Roderick by the throat and Madeline pleads with her Mommy to let them go and they are sorry.
Eliza immediately lets go and walks straight towards Longfellow who is outside his mansion, wondering if the lights have gone out for everyone in the street.
Eliza goes straight up to William and kills him. William's wife comes out to scream as Eliza collapse beside him.
Roderick tells Dupin how everything was brushed under the carpet and how Roderick and Madeline were given the money and company afterwards.
Dupin asks why he is being told about Eliza and Roderick tells him because Eliza is standing right behind him. Dupin refuses to turn around, stating that Roderick is using the ruse to assert a powerplay.
Roderick lets it go and goes on with the story of how he and his children were last together in court and then at the board meeting where they were told that there was an informant among them who was helping the Feds.
We meet the six children.
Frederick Usher who is married to Morella and has a daughter Lenore.
Tamerlane Usher who is an entrepreneur with a strange voyeurism obsession.
Victorine who is a surgeon and experimenting new technology on monkeys.
Leo, a gaming mogul who lives with his partner Julius and cat Pluto.
Camille who is the PR head and usually in charge of cleaning up everyone's mess.
Perry, who is a social media influencer and still unable to decide what he wants to do with the Usher's money.
As soon as Roderick announces one of them as an informant, we learn how all of them clearly don't love each other. They begin the blaming game and Roderick ends their conversation by announcing a $50 million reward to anyone who finds out who the informant is. He has put a bounty on the informant.
Roderick then tells Dupin about new year's eve and how he and his sister wanted to lay low. They meet a bartender named Verna who talks and befriends them.
The episode ends on a high note and while we already know the fate of the characters, you will still be intrigued by how it all comes about.
The actors are clearly having fun with their new roles that are clearly out of the box.
The Fall of the House of the Usher makes a good, strong impression.
Scare Scale: 4/5
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